READ THE CITIZENS' VOICE

Digital Only Subscription
Read the digital e-Edition of The Citizens' Voice on your PC or mobile device, and have 24/7 access to breaking news, local sports, contests, and more at citizensvoice.com or on our mobile apps.

Digital Services
Have news alerts sent to your mobile device or email, read the e-Edition, sign up for daily newsletters, enter contests, take quizzes, download our mobile apps and see the latest e-circulars.

Contact Us
See department contacts, frequently asked questions, request customer service support, submit a photo or place an ad.

Article Tools

WYOMING — State and federal authorities raided the home and business of Borough Manager Tamra Smith on Wednesday as part of an investigation into unexplained purchases and missing financial records from two organizations for which she prepared taxes.

State police and IRS agents descended on the scene at 251 Wyoming Ave. on Wednesday morning to seize computers and documents related to Smith’s time as treasurer of Wyoming Hose Company No. 1 and the Wyoming Free library, according to court documents.

According to a search warrant application filed in court Wednesday, Smith, who has an accounting business at her home, was responsible for preparing tax documents for both entities.

The application says Smith had a debit card and checks to be used for library business, and that between 2013 and 2014 they were used to buy more than 3,800 stamps. The library director told investigators that when he buys stamps, two rolls last the facility for months and that Smith’s purchases were “not authorized nor necessary,” according to the application.

During the same period, Smith wrote about 380 checks for library expenses, the warrant says.

In addition, tax returns that Smith prepared for 2012, 2013 and 2014 “differed significantly” with an independent auditor’s report regarding library assets, according to the warrant. The signatures on the tax forms for 2010 through 2013 also did not belong to the library officials who purportedly signed them, troopers wrote.

In her work for the fire department, Smith completed tax returns for 2010 and 2011 that contained “fraudulent information,” including forged signatures, the warrant says.

The fire department closed down in 2015 because it was four years behind on its taxes — in 2014 the IRS filed a nearly $220,000 lien against the department, according to the warrant.

Meanwhile, Smith resigned as treasurer for the library, but failed to turn over financial information including bank statements, receipts and invoices, troopers said.

As a result of Smith’s failure to file the appropriate tax documents on time, the library lost its non-profit status in 2013, the warrant says.

The application goes on to allege that minutes after Smith’s attorney Joseph F. Sklarosky Sr. called investigators last May to ask if she was the target of an investigation, Smith contacted the former fire department president asking if he would write a letter saying she had permission to sign his name on documents.

Investigators say that when they went to the fire department to get its financial records last summer, they were told the department does not have records from when Smith was treasurer. Smith claimed to have digitized the records and turned them over on a USB drive, but she had not been authorized to do so, says the warrant, alleging Smith brought the documents to her office.

The purpose of the search Wednesday was to collect computers and discs to be searched for further financial information, according to the application.

Smith, who in addition to being borough manager has also dated former Mayor Robert J. Boyer, has made news in recent years over allegations in civil complaints that she engaged in “official misconduct.”

A lawsuit Pittston attorney Cynthia L. Pollick filed in federal court in January 2016 alleges borough police officer Chris Mercavitch was demoted from captain to patrolman in retaliation for talking to state police. The complaint goes on to allege that Mercavitch reported to state police that July that Borough Manager Tamra Smith was engaged in “fixing a bid.” The documents indicate the alleged bid rigging involved an equipment sale, but do not offer specifics.

That case, which alleges Mercavitch was subjected to a “campaign of harassment” in violation of his constitutional rights, is still pending, with trial set for September.

The allegations in that case were similar to those alleged in another lawsuit brought in December 2015 by police officer Michael Fuller, who also contends he was retaliated against for reporting what he termed “official misconduct” by Smith.

That case is also still pending, with a trial date set for August.

Borough officials have denied retaliating against the officers.

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.